Do you remember the outrage a year and a half ago when the CEOs of Ford, Chrysler, and GM flew to Washington, D.C. in private jets to ask for $25 billion in taxpayer money to avoid bankruptcy? Not that selling off private jets would have covered the $25 billion these guys were asking for – but it would have been a nice start.

It’s unfortunate that we see this kind of arrogance and greed in the Corporate world. Millions of people were laid off from thousands of companies while big wigs like these CEO’s live in the lap of luxury. You saw very little about any CEO taking a pay cut during the turmoil this country went through during the latter part of 2008 and 2009. Instead, they cut out the jobs of average American’s while keeping their pay and perks intact.

Most CEO’s have a lucrative bonus plan in place – including the Founders of YTB. The difference between our Founders and the CEO’s of other companies is that Coach, Scott, and Kim’s bonus is based in part on the performance of the company. Some based on pay or salary, while another chunk is based on stock options. Unlike other CEO’s or companies (like the Big Three in Detroit) our three founders forfeited 355,000 shares in options each of the last two years because the company didn’t meet the performance goals they wrote down to achieve that would trigger each bonus.

In case your wondering – that’s called accountability.

While there were some riffs about the forfeiture of options from critics, I would have loved to see the outrage over actual shares being awarded. It’s one of those “damned if you do – damned if you don’t” scenarios we enjoy from Zealots who flip flop depending on how it furthers their own agenda.

Regardless of which side of the fence you sit on, the fact is our Founders aren’t the type who take big pay days when the company isn’t performing as promised. The buck stops with them so to speak – which goes back to their AL Williams days as “Reps”. (Not to mention its just good business.)

To further illustrate our Founders desire to create a healthy, viable company they’ve restructured their compensation based on overall performance rather than acting like the fat and happy Executives we see in traditional corporate models. The company announced the new pay structure in a press release on Tuesday:

In order to ensure the Company continues its best practices related to executive compensation, YTB is transitioning to a performance-based incentive compensation program. Effective for the 2010 fiscal year, certain Company executives are entitled to incentive compensation if the Company achieves growth in the number of Business Owners at fiscal year end compared to the beginning of the fiscal year; if the Company meets or exceeds certain financial objectives established at the beginning of the fiscal year; or if the executives meet or exceed certain personal or departmental financial and budgetary objectives established at the beginning of each fiscal year.

Nothing like taking personal responsibility and holding yourself accountable for the overall health of your company now is there? If our Founders and Executives don’t perform to acceptable standards – they’re not paid that handsome bonus other CEO’s are paid. Instead they created an incentive to meet or exceed goals which could compensate them above and beyond their previous pay structure.

Because YTB is a public company obviously all this was filed with the SEC and you can find details of the new compensation package along with a breakdown of objectives that are now required from the Executive Team. Compensation now rides on and includes the growth of business owners (or IBC’s), cash flow and available cash on hand, bottom line earnings reported to stock holders, and other discretionary objectives for each department.

Based on the Press Release that was issued – and the terms of the new compensation that were filed with the SEC – simple logic would have you conclude that the Founders and Executives are at the very least willing to do their part for the overall health of the company.

That being said – not everyone who read the filing was able to comprehend or discern what went down. In a very comical and incredibly bizarre “Google Alert” – some jack ass laid claim that our Founders could be getting ready to resign after landing a sweetheart deal.

I’m not kidding – our self-proclaimed “YTB Expert” thinks you can quit (or resign) AND collect severance to boot. His focus – a two year deal that’s structured under the old compensation package that he claims will enable Coach, Scott and Kim to ride off into the sunset. While they haven’t resigned (yet) according to this dolt – we all need to be cautious of this severance stipulation.

Typical.

For the record, the clause he didn’t “copy and paste” on his blog stated otherwise:

Accordingly, a beneficiary under no circumstances would receive any payment under the Program if he left YTB without good reason or was terminated for cause.

It’s not that a clause like this is really necessary. Can you imagine walking into the Boss’s office sitting yourself down and stating “I’d like to resign – what kind of severance can you offer me?”

You’d either be thrown out and most likely fired “with cause” (for being stupid) or suffer the brunt of company jokes for years to come. (Again – for being stupid.)

You might be wondering if this idiot wrote this out of desperation or due to sheer stupidity. While I’m certainly not a mind reader and I hate having words put in my mouth (like he does with me) I’m pretty certain that this zealot thinks we’re the suckers due to the growing number of YTB’ers (including myself) that make it into his “Dumbass Den”.

In his own arrogant and self-righteous way, our lack of intelligence can’t possibly uncover the obvious error because those in MLM aren’t smart enough. We’re beneath the almighty professionals who pick – poke – and pry at anything and everything our company does.

On the other hand: If you think Coach, Scott and Kim have even the slimmest chance of quitting and having the Board of Directors approve a single dime of the two year severance package that was written – you DO belong in a “Dumbass Den”.

Likewise, for those who are reading up on the internet about ZamZuu or YTB at this time – go back to Tuesday’s article and the statement that John is helping us weed out those that aren’t intelligent or responsible enough to uncover fact or truth. Seriously – If a big old red flag doesn’t come up warning you that nobody gets a severance package when they resign – how could they even be considered a viable prospect?

See my point?

Are his statements ridiculous, absurd, bizarre? Sure they are – that’s what we’ve all come to know, but not quite love about John. But trust me, there’s no way you’re going to convince an arrogant pompous ass like John Frenaye that he’s wrong. His ego is just too big and overpowering to allow anyone to knock any logic or sense in that brain of his. (That – or there’s just not enough room down there.)

At this point, the best you can do is smirk (or laugh out loud like I did) and be thankful and grateful that you’re not as desperate (or stupid) – nor are you likely to run into anyone who is because John’s pretty much got a lock on weeding out any bottom feeders for us.

Instead, turn it around and be thankful. If for nothing else – for ability to read and comprehend the English language.

Then you can move on and be thankful that our Founders are willing to do what it takes to provide a viable, profitable, and respectable business opportunity for those of us who see things for what they really are.

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I have an old friend who always says…”If it’s free…it’s for me!”

Today is YTB’s last Red Carpet Day of 2009. Just like all the other Red Carpet Days that came before it, YTB offers a free lunch. It wasn’t a big deal back in the beginning when the company was located on the top floor of an old bank building in downtown Alton, IL with a handful of people showing up to meat Coach, Scott, and Kim. The handful grew into a dozen, and then a hundred, to today – when well over one thousand people show up to tour the YTB Home Office to kick the tires and see if this company is for real.

There’s something about Red Carpet Day that cements the company as “the real deal” when you have a chance to actually see the facility and the people who work there. I remember being blown away at the various departments and the organization of the layout. It was also a real treat to personally meet some of the Home Office Team that I had been communicating with either via support tickets, e-mail, or phone conversations. Many in the home office staff have been there for years and over time you develop relationships with them. To have a chance to put a face to a name enhances that relationship.

While the office buildings may have changed, the home office staff has expanded, and the number of people who experience Red Carpet each event has certainly grown over the years – one thing has remains the same.

They still offer a free lunch.

While I know there are those who follow the old quote “There’s no such thing as a free lunch” there is one small catch. After lunch, it’s time to put your business hat on and listen to the CEO of YTB Marketing (and newly appointed Chairman of the Board) Scott Tomer as he explains the YTB business model to new prospects.

One of the things I love about Scott is that he lays it out from the very beginning – that if the YTB model doesn’t make sense, do him and everyone else a favor and don’t join. There’s no “rah rah” or “motivational talk” from Scott. The model is laid out in black and white, without any sugar coating – and many of the worn out myths and misconceptions about MLM and Network Marketing are brought up and challenged for those who care to listen to someone who not only has practical experience but has had a considerable amount of success in the model.

I remember the first time I heard Scott tell people not to join. I woke me up – because I had never heard anyone say something like that before. Today, I understand not only why he leads with this, but find it extremely effective. I see to many newcomers in the Direct Sales industry either beg, or tell someone that they need this in order to save them from financial ruin. YTB just like any other job, opportunity, or investment is a choice. If you want to come along for the ride – great – let’s get to work. For those who are unsure or don’t like Direct Sales, that’s fine too. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea and not everyone is comfortable with being paid based on results. For Scott and myself, we’re going to continue down this path regardless of your perceptions. Just like you, that’s our choice. I don’t need any convincing because I’ve already taken great vacations, I’ve already made both travel commissions and marketing commissions, and I’ve already seen that this model works when you work it the right way.

What Red Carpet is designed to do is help both the newcomer and the existing IBC or Rep understand that real people run this company. There is also a real home office with real customer service people who are there to answer questions and offer training and support. It certainly helps to see it live and in living color.

While it’s a little late to make the free lunch today. Red Carpet will be back in full force in 2010. When the schedule comes out for the spring, I’d highly recommend that you find a date and go. It’s one thing to be part of YTB, but when YTB becomes part of you at Red Carpet, it’s a whole new ballgame. Not only is it enlightening, it’s interactive and fun, and if nothing else, there’s a free lunch in the deal.

Take a look for yourself.

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If there’s one thing I absolutely love about YTB – it’s thier willingness to not only listen to the field, but make significant changes and upgrades based on field input and ideas. I spent many years in the corporate world with both large and small businesses and have never been able to communicate with an Owner or Executive Team the way I have with YTB. It’s one thing to have an “open door” policy in place (which is complete BS for most companies) and another to not only open your doors, but make policy and corporate changes based on ideas and wishes you’ve talked about with your peers.

Over the last year and a half, YTB has created a very thorough and streamlined system of taking field input and ideas – categorizing them by department – then listing them in order of importance – and implementing the thoughts and ideas to make them a reality.

I’ve never seen anything like it. And after seeing it in action – have no idea why nobody else does it like this. It’s by far the most effective and democratic way of getting things done. The following enhancements – some large and some small – all came from the people and have been implemented for the people of YTB.

1.)   Sales System Sign-Up Process – YTB has simplified the sign up process for Reps and Associates and sale of IBCs (Internet Business Centers). One of the most significant changes: instead of going to one site to register affiliates (Reps and/or Associates) and then a different site to process IBC sales, both of these functions will now be found on one, user-friendly site.

Training videos are already loaded in the back office for both the Reps and/or Associates and the sales process for IBC sales. Even if you’re not in California, you should take a look at the California videos the company produced. (One for each Reps and IBC’s) The process is not only very simple, but very cool in the way it counts down and educates new prospects into the business over the 14 day grace period.

While I (and you should too) understand why the company designed and implemented the two separate sites – one for our free referral program, and another site for the sale of the Internet Business Centers – it confused both the prospects who were looking at the opportunity and the field. (Not to mention extremely cumbersome and time consuming for everyone involved.) When questions would arise concerning why these sites are separate and California’s claim of a “gigantic pyramid scheme” came up – the two words most used by prospects in reaction to the reason was “That’s stupid”.

More and more of our society have a very clear understanding of what a referral or affiliate program is. (YTB Marketing) Most also know what an Internet Business is. (YTB Travel, shopYTB, YTB Golf, YTB Romance, YTB Outdoors, YTB Flowers…etc.) From what I’ve seen (or rather heard) is the idea of “pyramid” in this new era of business is becoming more and more outdated and old fashioned.

YTB has not only modified and updated the process for today’s business minds so they can see both opportunities from one site (but still required to register separately for each) but also updated the phrasing and terminology for the type of internet marketing environment they’ve become accustomed to. Business has changed drastically over the last decade and YTB is simply keeping up with the way people think and view business opportunities.

For the dinosaurs who desire to keep the old fashioned “pyramid” ideas alive – they’re more than welcome to do so. It’s becoming less and less relevant in these modern times. If you run into a outdated or uninformed business mind – I’d suggest that you either ignore it – or simply respond with my favorite line. It simply and clearly states that these outdated concepts in today’s business environment is no longer relevant…”Thanks for sharing”. 

2.) shopYTB – YTB is adding reports to both the Back Office and Travel Portal so that commissions generated by customers will now appear. Specifically, IBC’s will be able to see into thier customer chain. For example, when looking at the report in the Back Office or Travel Portal, IBC’s will see the name of the person who purchased, what city they are from, and the commission that was generated from that sale.

3.) Site Owner Commission Structure – YTB will be adding a brief message to the Travel Portal banner that indicates the Site Owner’s current commission level. With commission contracts ranging from 50% to 100% based on both training and performance levels, Site Owner’s will not only see what commission contract they’re currently under but have easy access to the training and tools available to increase thier current commission contract.

4.) Travel Portal Update - YTB will be adding payment history reporting to the Travel Portal that will be found under your “My Account” tab. This can be very useful and important for your CPA come tax time.

5.) Paycards - IBC’s will now have the ability to purchase a YTB Paycard from the Travel Portal and have your travel commissions loaded on it. I’ve been using the Paycard for years and it’s not only very convenient but use online statements for my CPA and tax purposes. Previously, the YTB Paycard was only found in the YTB Marketing back office.

I’m going to save the best news for tomorrow. (Also because it’s not available until tomorrow.) It’s one more advancement or rather “step” towards the total transformation YTB is going through right now. All because of input brought to them by the field.

That my friends is a REAL open door policy.

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A couple weeks ago, I warned about how bad Royal Caribbeans 4th quarter numbers would be. The morning I wrote it, the financials had not been out yet, but later that day we came to find out fourth-quarter earnings tumbled 98 percent. No big surprise as the entire industry is struggling in this economy, but when you combine it with poor business decisions it’s clear that those decisions are starting to catch up with them. Terminating entire agencies, upping commission thresholds for others who they’re suppose to be supporting, combined with the mega ships they’re building and can’t afford has the company cutting back in other areas that has many either concerned or just downright upset.

Having someone like me miffed is one thing, but when you get an entire state upset over how you conduct your business is another. The 49th state in the Union, who happens to be celebrating it’s 50th Anniversary of Statehood this year is now “worried” over Royal Caribbeans decission to take an entire ship out of circulation starting 2010. Serenade’s removal next year will decrease tourists by 42,000 passengers, and is estimated to drop revenue by some $55 million.

I can’t think of another destination that is more pristine than Alaska. Every client I have ever booked for Alaska has come back with comments of breathtaking views and once in a lifetime experiences. Other than the Caribbean it’s the most popular destination we sell at BandBVacations.com. With Alaska’s 50th anniversary this year there are more folks than ever looking at this destination for their family, even with the drastic time change (here on the east coast) and the higher cost of this cruise experience.

So why would Royal Caribbean drop Alaska?

Taxes. (A $50 per passenger tax that was put into effect back in 2006.)

One company’s loss is another company’s gain. Princess is the cruise line of choice not only passengers, but it’s been voted Best Cruise Line in Alaska by the readers of Travel Weekly magazine. (The last 5 years no less.) Princess has introduced a special new lineup of cruisetours that offer passengers the extra convenience of roundtrip travel from Seattle and due to the economy, unprecedented low fares. These new options make planning an Alaska land/sea vacation easier than ever by including all travel once the passenger gets to Seattle, including airfare between Seattle and Anchorage, as well as a free stateroom upgrade.

“Since 2009 is the 50th anniversary of Alaska’s statehood, this is the perfect year to visit the 49th state,” said Charlie Ball, president of Princess Tours. “And with these special cruisetour packages, we’re making a visit to the heart of Alaska more convenient than ever. All our passengers need to do is plan their travel to and from Seattle. We take it from there, so visitors can simply enjoy this incredible opportunity to visit Alaska’s top attractions, including Glacier Bay and Denali National Park.”

The new Alaska Wilderness Sale cruisetours include the line’s famed Voyage of the Glaciers sailings between Vancouver and Whittier — featuring calls at Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway with daylight cruising of Glacier Bay National Park and the 16 glaciers of College Fjord. Passengers can choose departures on either the 2,670-passenger Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess or the 1,970-passenger Coral Princess and Island Princess.

In addition, passengers will enjoy Direct to the Wilderness rail transportation right from their ship to the Denali area, giving them extra time in the heart of Alaska’s wilderness. Cruisetour options include two nights at Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge and one or two nights at Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge. The packages also include an overnight stay in Seattle.

Princess’ 2009 Alaska season runs from May 9 to September 14, and features a total of 130 Alaska sailings — including the signature Voyage of the Glaciers sailings, Inside Passage routes from Seattle and San Francisco, and a small ship experience on 14-day Connoisseur voyages to some of the state’s less-visited ports. In addition, Princess will again take more passengers to the ice-filled wonder of Glacier Bay National Park than any other line, with 81 cruises scheduled for this season.

I can’t think of a better time or way to visit Alaska. The low fairs, combined with the states 50th anniversary makes it a win win for anyone looking for a trip of lifetime.

As a side note, I’ll be somewhat out of touch with this blog the next two days. I’ve been invited up to the YTB Home Office for a Directors Meeting Tuesday and Wednesday and from the looks of the schedule, along with flying up and back, I don’t know how much time I’ll have to dedicate here. (In other words, don’t look for comments to be posted until late in the evening.)

You can be assured that most of what will be discussed will be found in this weekends Newsletter. Of course, I’ll update what I can here for everyone, but as you know, most of what myself or YTB puts out is taken out of context and twisted into something it’s not, so be sure to check here or via our newsletter to get the facts from someone who was actually there. (Remember one of my favorite quotes: “Don’t believe a word you hear unless you can verify it on your own to be true”.)

It will be good to see and be around so many friends again, some whom I’ve not seen since the National Convention this past summer.

Hope to see you Thursday!

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Do You ZamZuu?

I’m kind of scratching my head these days wondering what in the world is going on with YTB.

I’ve been told that the California Attorney General will be shutting YTB down, and I would assume that means my days with the company are numbered.

If you look at this logically or from a legal standpoint, California can only prohibit YTB from operating in their particular state. This notion that Jerry Brown and his office has the power to shut the entire company down is nothing more than wishful thinking. Illinois, on the other hand, does have to authority, and while they are cooperating with California, we are coming up on a 3 months without any further word or action from the Illinois Attorney Generals Office.

Some are still holding on to hopes that they will. Of course these are the same people who are looking for the FTC to come around, even after the ASTA was told to go pound sand back in 2005.

Meanwhile, “back at the ranch” YTB has been rolling out marketing materials and upgrades like there’s no tomorrow. (Like that play on words don’t you…”no tomorrow”.) We’ve seen new presentations both on line and off line within the past week. We’ve also seen a brand new Travel Training Course, which enables those of us who care to, to earn 70% of the agent commission paid to YTB.

Now late last night, I see that the company has upgraded its marketing site with a brand new look.

While I’m not 100% positive about this, and I could be mistaken, I believe this is yet another “reactionary move” as our critics like to call it. It wasn’t enough for California and other critics that YTB had a marketing site that looked like all the other REP sites out there. It didn’t matter that there was never any possibility for someone to join YTB as a REP from the main YTB Corporate domain (ytb.com) the company needed to make a clear distinction between what belonged to Corporate and what belongs to the REP’s and RTA’s out in the field.

I also have to wonder if the home office flipped the switch yesterday in honor of one of YTB’s favorite critics. While there was a post yesterday on the blog that finally came up with something to spin about the new killer presentation, (although he did say it was “great”) he did lead the rest of the flock right to the YTB main domain that this new site is hosted on.

Leave it to him to break this kind of upgrade.

For the record, the home office isn’t done. I’m really not at liberty to discuss here what’s in the works, but we’ll all find out soon enough from the proper channels.

You’ll just have to check back in the next few days to find out.

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Join YTB Founders Coach Lloyd Tomer, Scott Tomer, and J. Kim Sorensen as they kick off 2007 with the Founders’ Tour. Meetings will be conducted in several cities across the nation immediately following Coach’s Birthday Bash in Orlando, FL January 11-14. YTB Directors will also be on hand at various meetings to share their business expertise with you during this country wide blitz! Learn how to expand your YTB businesses from the best in our business! Don’t miss out on the opportunity to meet our Founders and YTB Directors! YTB is growing as never before and NOW is the RIGHT TIME for your business to explode!

The following meetings are confirmed at this time.

Click on this link for city locations on the company calendar

Coach Tomer
Wednesday, January 17, Miami, FL
Thursday, January 18, Houston, TX
Friday, January 19, Austin, TX
Saturday, January 20, Dallas, TX
Monday, January 22, Louisville, KY
Tuesday, January 23, Columbus, OH
Wednesday January 24, Beachwood, OH
Thursday, January 25, Dearborn, MI
Friday, January 26, Oak Brook, IL
Monday, January 29, Kansas City, MO
Tuesday, January 30, Fenton, MO
Wednesday, January 31, Memphis, TN
Thursday, February 1, Carterville, IL

Kim Sorensen
Monday, January 15, Orlando, FL
Tuesday, January 16, West Palm Beach, FL
Wednesday, January 17, Miami, FL
Thursday, January 18, Gainesville, FL
Friday, January 19, Tampa, FL
Monday, January 22, Jekyll Island, GA
Tuesday, January 23, West Columbia, SC
Wednesday, January 24, Atlanta, GA
Thursday, January 25, Birmingham, AL
Monday, January 29, Raleigh, NC
Tuesday, January 30, Chesapeake, VA
Wednesday, January 31, Richmond, VA
Thursday, February 1, North Haven, CT

Scott Tomer
Monday, January 15, College Park, GA
Tuesday, January 16, Charlotte, NC
Wednesday, January 17, Baltimore, MD
Thursday, January 18, Washington, DC
Friday, January 19, East Elmhurst, NY
Monday, January 22, Sacramento, CA (Lunch meeting)
Monday, January 22, Sunnyvale, CA
Tuesday, January 23, San Rafael, CA (Lunch meeting)
Tuesday, January 23, Burlingame, CA
Wednesday, January 24, San Bernardino, CA (Lunch meeting)
Wednesday, January 24, Ontario, CA
Thursday, January 25, Marina Del Rey, CA (Lunch meeting)
Thursday, January 25, Los Angeles, CA
Friday, January 26, San Diego, CA
Saturday, January 27, Irvine, CA
Tuesday, January 30, Scottsdale, AZ
Wednesday, January 31, Denver, CO
Thursday, February 1, Kissimmee, FL

If you would like more information about any these meetings or someone locally to contact at any of these locations, please feel free to contact us!

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An operation considered to be one of the fastest-growing Internet-based travel companies is planning to move into its $2 million headquarters in Wood River by the end of the month.

YTB International Inc., at 1 Country Club View Drive in Edwardsville, will move into its new corporate headquarters in the former Kmart building on Edwardsville Road in Wood River on Dec. 26.

“We’re really excited about it,” said Andrew F. Cauthen, president and chief operations officer of the company.

The company, which is publicly traded and operates three divisions – YourTravelBiz.com, REZconnect Technologies Inc. and YTB Travel Network – announced in July that it had purchased the 120,000-square-foot building and 13-acre site with plans to renovate them.

The announcement was made shortly after another development group said it planned to demolish the building along Illinois Route 143 to make way for a $10 million to $12 million automobile dealership complex that would have included Federico Chrysler-Dodge Inc. and Jack Schmitt of Alton Inc. (Alton Centers Nissan)

The dealerships still plan to build on land west of the property at the intersection of Route 143 and Lakin Boulevard.

Cauthen said one of the reasons the company chose Wood River is that it simply outgrew its site in Edwardsville. He said the company liked the location and could renovate the former retail site for about $40 per square foot, which is significantly less than the $200 per square foot it would cost for a new building.

Work has been under way for the past several months. The company hired C.O.R.E., a project management firm, to oversee the work being done in the former restaurant of the building.

“We have a business to run and needed someone we could trust to oversee the project,” Cauthen said.

He said the renovation is being done in three phases. Current renovation is considered Phase 2.

Phase 3 of the project will include building a state-of-the-art 500-seat theater and dining room in part of the 100,000-square-foot site, and Phase 4 will be transforming the remaining portion of the building.

“We cannot wait until it’s done,” Cauthen said.

The building should be completed in 2008, he said.

“Right now, it still doesn’t look that different from the outside, but within the next year, it will,” he said.

Cauthen said the company plans to spend an additional $10 million in renovations.

The company projects that by June 2009, it will employ nearly 600 people or more and earn $338 million in annual revenue.

J. Lloyd “Coach” Tomer, founder of the company and chairman of the board, said he is excited about moving into the company’s new digs. He said he is especially looking forward to being a part of the Wood River community.

Tomer, along with his son, Scott, and friend, J. Kim Sorenson, started the company in Alton.

In June 2001, six employees started working for the company in the former First National Bank building at Third and Belle streets. By July 2005, the company had outgrown its space and moved to Edwardsville.

“We had 39 employees when we moved,” Tomer said.

During the past 18 months, the company has hired 100 people, and once it moves to Wood River, it plans to hire more.

Wood River Mayor Fred Ufert said he is excited about the company’s move, which he said adds to the growth and development that is rapidly taking place in the city.

“Having a corporate headquarters in town will be a good thing for the community,” Ufert said.

He said he hopes the company’s anticipated growth will bring more development to the area.

Tomer agreed. He said that besides office personnel, 60,000 referring travel agents are part of the business, and they visit the company’s headquarters by the hundreds at a time.

The business basically allows people to start their own Internet travel business. Those who become referring travel agents earn a commission every time someone books a trip from their site.

YTB runs the booking engine. The company merged with a New Jersey company, REZconnect, several years ago to get the technology that links Web customers in real time, allowing them to make travel reservations.

YTB develops, sells and supports the online travel Web sites of referring travel agents. The initial start-up cost for a referring travel agent is $450 and a $50 monthly maintenance fee.

Customers who log on to any YTB site have the ability to make reservations on more than 424 airlines, at more than 35,000 hotels and with most major car rental companies, cruise lines and tour package operators.

Tomer said all offices would be moving to Wood River. He said one of the reasons he is excited about the move is that city officials have welcomed the company with open arms.

Ufert said he hopes that with YTB’s move to the city, it will continue to bring more businesses.

“It’s been a good year for development in Wood River, and we only hope we can continue that,” he said.

Tomer said about 60,000 people will tour the home office next year and are likely to spend more than $6 million on hotels and $3 million on meals and entertainment.

“That doesn’t count our employees who leave the office for lunch, either,” he said.

Tomer said he hopes his business is able to help the city bring additional businesses to town.

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